Police arrest armed teen

Posted: Tuesday, December 21, 1999

JANET BRESENHAMGlobe-News Staff Writer

CLOVIS, N.M. - An armed teen-ager who allegedly stole a pickup in Roosevelt County and then led police on a high-speed chase through Clovis was captured Monday afternoon and arrested on multiple felony charges, Clovis Police Chief Ray Mondragon said.

Police also charged the suspect, Justin Tipton, 19, of Clovis in connection with a recent robbery at the North Plains Mall, Mondragon said.

During the chase, police said Tipton hit a vehicle with three people at one intersection, pointed a gun at a woman on another street and repeatedly pointed the gun at police officers pursuing him, but no one was injured, Mondragon said.

The chase finally ended at 10th and Walnut streets when Texico Police Chief Kelly Brophy maneuvered his police vehicle so his car and the suspect's truck collided, disabling the truck, Mondragon said.

Once the truck stopped, however, Tipton remained inside and would not get out, Mondragon said. When officers ordered him out, Tipton put up his hands but did not leave the vehicle, Mondragon said.

Police officers then broke out the windows of the pickup, removed Tipton and took him into custody, Mondragon said.

Tipton was arrested on 16 felony charges: three counts of aggravated assault on police officers with a deadly weapon; one count of aggravated assault on a civilian; one count of criminal damage over $1,000; five counts of criminal damage under $1,000; one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle; three counts of possession of stolen firearms; one count of robbery; and one count of assault on a police officer, police reports show.

Tipton was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center, where his cash-only bond is set at $26,000, a jail spokeswoman said.

The chase began about 12:15 p.m. Monday when Clovis Police Sgt. Dan Blair spotted the truck, which had been reported stolen from Roosevelt County. Blair recognized the driver as the suspect in the recent robbery, Mondragon said.

Blair called for assistance from other police officers, who made the first attempt to stop Tipton at Sheridan and Rio streets. At that point, the suspect drove into the Bella Vista Elementary School parking lot when the truck stalled.

Clovis Police Officer Keith Bessette then got out of his police car and started walking toward the truck. But the truck restarted, and the suspect left and drove east on Jefferson Street while showing a weapon to officers as they followed him, Mondragon said.

Police said Tipton continued pointing the gun and driving recklessly through Clovis through a field and several streets before he was stopped, Mondragon said.